Fundamentals of Electromagnetism
Started: 11 Mar 2025
Updated: 15 Mar 2025
Updated: 15 Mar 2025
- Physical system: a physical system in electromagnetism can be as simple as a single electron or as complex as an entire power grid.
- Point Charge System: A single charged particle (like an electron) or a collection of charges.
- Current-Carrying Conductors: Wires carrying current, solenoids, or circuits.
- Electromagnetic Fields: The electric field and magnetic field that exist in space and interact with matter.
- Electromagnetic Waves: Light, radio waves, or any other form of electromagnetic radiation.
- Capacitor and Inductor Systems: Systems storing energy in electric and magnetic fields.
- Plasma: Ionized gases where charged particles move freely, interacting with electric and magnetic fields.
- State of the physical system: defined by the physical quantities that describe the system at a given moment in time (t) and space (x).
- Electomagnetic fields: $E(x,t), B(x,t)$ strength as a function of space and time
- Propertie of the physical object/system:
- electric charges ($q, Q$), current ($dQ/dt$), current density ($\mathbf{J}$)
- Charge distribution : charges located per unit space
- charge density ($dQ/dx$)
- Electromagnetic potential: scalar ($V(x,t)$), vector ($A$)
- Electromagnetic wave, electromagnetic fields $E,B$
- mass ($m$), velocity $(v)$, position $(x,y,z)$
- frequency, wavelength, polarization, amplitude
- Energy density and Momentum
- A physical phenomenon in electromagnetism, such as electromagnetic induction, light propagation, or the functioning of an electric circuit, happens when these quantities change.
- Physical law: describe the necessary and stable relationships between physical quantities.
- Maxwell’s equation, relates $E(x,t)$ and $B(x,t)$
- Ampere’s Law (with Maxwell’s correction): $\nabla \times \mathbf{B} = \mu_0 \mathbf{J} + \mu_0 \varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t}$
- Faraday’s Law of Induction: $\nabla \times \mathbf{E} = -\frac{\partial \mathbf{B}}{\partial t}$
- Gauss’s Law for Magnetism, Electricity:$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B} = 0$, $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E} = \frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}$
- Lorentz Force Law: $\mathbf{F} = q(\mathbf{E} + \mathbf{v} \times \mathbf{B})$
- Ohm’s law: $V=IR$
- Electromagnetic Wave equation: $\nabla^2 \mathbf{E} - \mu_0 \varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial^2 \mathbf{E}}{\partial t^2} = 0$
- Poynting Theorem: $\mathbf{S} = \mathbf{E} \times \mathbf{H}$
- Wave Equation for Electromagnetic Waves: $\nabla^2 \mathbf{E} - \mu_0 \varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial^2 \mathbf{E}}{\partial t^2} = 0$
- Maxwell’s equation, relates $E(x,t)$ and $B(x,t)$
How the State Changes (Physical Phenomena):
- A moving charge creates a magnetic field ($B$).
- A changing magnetic field induces an electric field (Faraday’s Law).
- A changing electric field can produce a magnetic field (Maxwell’s correction to Ampère’s Law).
- A charge in an electric or magnetic field experiences a force (Lorentz Force).
- A physical phenomenon in electromagnetism, such as electromagnetic induction, light propagation, or the functioning of an electric circuit, happens when these quantities change.
References
- Griffiths, D. J. (2023). Introduction to electrodynamics. Cambridge University Press.
- Jackson, J. D. (2021). Classical electrodynamics. John Wiley & Sons.
- Greiner, W. (2012). Classical electrodynamics. Springer Science & Business Media.